La représentation et la perception de la xenitia dans la poésie orale de l’île de Karpathos
Abstract
The exile of the Greek population is a reality which largely inspired the creation of popular songs from the demotic songs of the Byzantine era to the urban songs created from the end of the 19th century. The village of Olympos on the island of Karpathos is also experiencing increasing depopulation, and this theme of exile continues to be sung there today during glentia, various festivals of the village community. Those who have emigrated also participate to these festivals. Exile is evoked, on the one hand, in the demotic songs which have been transmitted orally from generation to generation and, on the other hand, in the couplets called mantinades which are created by men during sung poetic improvisation. The representation of xenitia through the oral poetry of these songs reflects the perception of exile within this rural community where most of its members live outside the village.
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